HR Leader Podcast Network

Productivity coach and author of the ‘It’s about time’ series, Donna McGeorge, shared her insights on time management for leaders with The HR Leader. Delving into concepts like ‘surge capacity’ and ‘adaptive capacity’, as well as the ‘15 per cent rule’, Ms McGeorge shared tips to help leaders and people managers make the most of their time. The conversation also covered how managers can help their staff to better organise their time, as well as what leaders often forget to make time for!  Listen to the podcast with Ms McGeorge below to make better use of your time. Ms McGeorge has kindly shared the below reference that relates to the podcast discussion:   https://www.lifeblood.com.au/  A note from the editor: This podcast was recorded on 11 August 2022

Mercer Careers Australia country managing director,Cynthia Cottrell, spoke with The HR Leader for a special two-part podcast on AI and automation in HR, work design and how data complements redesigns. The conversation examined how employers can use automation to facilitate ‘sustainable and enjoyable’ work for all employees. And Ms Cottrell talked about what AI really means as it’s a concept that’s often misunderstood in the HR world. Ms Cottrell discussed flexible working in the context of work design and why it’s important to consider them hand in hand. The podcast also touched on how data can be used to facilitate work redesigns. Listen to part one of this two-part special below.

Michelle Novotny, managing director at Discovering People, joined The HR Leader to talk about her experiences as a business owner, parent, and mentor in the recruitment industry. Ms Novotny discusses how she achieves work-life balance as a busy parent and managing director. She delves into why she believes it’s important to give people professional opportunities, and why this has been rewarding for her, too. Given the current talent shortages in the marketplace, Ms Novotny also shares her tips for success in such a market based on her years of experience in recruitment.

Lesley Horsburgh, managing director at the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) shared with The HR Leader her journey to her current role, the evolution of APSCo to what it is today, and the market challenges that they’re learning about via their members. Ms Horsburgh discussed talent shortages both within and outside of the recruitment industry — not only is the industry under pressure to help clients find talent, it’s hard to find recruitment talent too. The podcast conversation also delved into the challenges associated with Australian legislation trying to accommodate both ‘white’ and ‘blue’ collar work with the same rules, where a more nuanced approach may be beneficial.

Joe Hart, principal psychologist and director at True Perspective sat down with The HR Leader to talk about leadership, culture, and performance management. Mr Hart related why he feels that perspective is so important as a leadership quality, explaining that to be an effective leader, one needs to be empathetic to their employees’ perspectives. Mr Hart also explained where he feels the line is between quantitative and qualitative data-backed decision-making. The podcast conversation was rounded out with a discussion on why culture change needs to start with the leaders in an organisation, with the view that ‘you can’t beat Mother Nature!’

Deepak Singh, partner at Think & Grow, joined The HR Leader to discuss the Retrain program the firm has created to help people find ‘meaningful work’. Retrain was born out of the challenges people experienced finding work during the global financial crisis (GFC). When COVID-19 started, Think & Grow recognised parallels with the GFC in that it was creating similar hurdles for people looking to secure good work. Identifying particular groups of people that might find it hard to get work, and with an interest in the tech industry, Deepak explained how they help people find the right positions for them. One element of the Retrain program is to teach people how to tell their story in a way that commercially resonates with potential employers.

MacMORGAN Next Practice Growth’s principal and co-founder, Rowena Millward, shared her thoughts on growth and learning with The HR Leader. Ms Millward explained why she uses the term ‘uncomfortable growth’, relating that change and growth can be uncomfortable but that difficulties can often yield positive results. The discussion also included the balance of responsibility between individuals and employers when it comes to driving progress. Listen to the podcast below for more on Ms Millward’s insights into growth, including what the future holds for learning in a world where both tech and people skills will be required.

Nyrissa Filetti is the head of people and culture at MLC School. She shared with The HR Leader why she chooses to work in the L&D world, what she feels helps to make learning a success, and her thoughts on the future of L&D. Ms Filetti talked about the importance of being flexible as an L&D practitioner, as well as touching on gamification, badging, and using virtual reality to achieve learning outcomes. The ‘Round Square’ concept was also discussed, alongside the importance employees are placing on having purpose and global connections. Highlighting the benefit of working in learning in a school, Ms Filetti said: “If I thought that there was a lot of opportunity in other organisations, it's just incomparable when I can see the opportunities in education.” She added: “I'm really excited … Bringing human-centred design and Agile practices to an environment like this and everybody's just lapping it up and getting on this ‘excitement bus’ that I like creating at the same time!” Find out more by listening to the podcast below.

ELMO Software’s chief commercial officer, Darryl Garber, spoke with The HR Leader about how HR technology is solving some of the most pressing issues in people management including wellbeing, hybrid working, talent shortages, and working from home. Mr Garber discussed ELMO’s latest HR software modules for hybrid working and wellbeing. He also shared insights from ELMO’s recent Employee Sentiment Index. The HR and people leadership arena continues to grapple with changes that impact how people work and their wellbeing. Listen to the podcast to find out how technology can help with the challenges arising from these changes.

Total Image Group’s CEO, Pamela Jabbour, talked to The HR Leader about workwear in the modern office. Ms Jabbour discussed what’s appropriate to wear to work in 2022, how things have changed, and how to accommodate individual preferences alongside a dress code or uniform.  The podcast also addressed what employers might consider doing when a staff member won’t adhere to appropriate work attire, and the impact employees can have on employer branding through their workwear choices.